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Evaluation of audiovestibular status in leprosy
Indian Journal of Leprosy
|January 1, 1984
Summary
Leprosy can affect hearing and balance. Lepromatous leprosy patients experienced hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction, likely from end-organ issues, while tuberculoid leprosy showed no auditory impairment.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
Background:
- Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease, can manifest with various systemic complications.
- Audiovestibular function is a potential area affected by leprosy, particularly the lepromatous form.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the audiovestibular status in patients with lepromatous leprosy and tuberculoid leprosy.
- To identify the types and causes of hearing impairment and vestibular dysfunction in leprosy patients.
Main Methods:
- Audiometric and vestibular function tests were performed on 125 lepromatous leprosy cases and 25 tuberculoid leprosy cases.
- Etiological factors for hearing loss and vestibular hypofunction were assessed.
Main Results:
- 52% of lepromatous leprosy patients exhibited impaired hearing; 7.2% showed vestibular hypofunction.
- Conductive deafness was linked to eustachian tube catarrh from atrophic rhinitis.
- Perceptive deafness and vestibular hypofunction were attributed to end-organ lesions, possibly from Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL) reactions.
Conclusions:
- Lepromatous leprosy significantly impacts audiovestibular function, causing both conductive and perceptive hearing loss, and vestibular deficits.
- Tuberculoid leprosy does not appear to cause hearing or vestibular derangements.
- Vestibulocochlear nerve involvement is unlikely; end-organ damage is the probable cause of dysfunction in lepromatous leprosy.